During his high-stakes visit to India, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a firm warning regarding the Ukraine conflict, stating categorically that Moscow will only end its “special military operation” after “achieving its goals.”
The President shared his perspective on the nearly four-year-long conflict in an exclusive interview with India Today.
Endgame and Blame on the West
President Putin outlined his endgame in Ukraine, asserting that the war will only conclude once Russia achieves its predetermined objectives, which specifically include the “liberating Donbas” and other claimed territories.
He offered a stark choice for the resolution of the conflict:
“All this boils down to one thing: Either we take back these territories by force, or eventually Ukrainian troops withdraw.”
Putin vehemently criticized the West, stating that Russia did not start the Ukraine war. Instead, he framed the operation as an effort to halt a conflict that had already begun:
“Our special military operation isn’t the start of a war, but rather an attempt to end one that the West ignited using Ukrainian nationalists,” he said.
He accused the West of orchestrating the 2014 overthrow of the then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, stating that this coup d’état was the key point that triggered the subsequent events in Crimea and the Donbas region. He alleged that the West continues to ignore these crucial lead-up events.
Protecting Russian Interests and Values
Putin highlighted several long-standing antagonisms between the two countries, claiming that Ukraine has actively harmed Russian interests. He specifically pointed to:
- Language Ban: Ukraine banning the Russian language in several territories.
- Religious Persecution: Driving people away from temples, churches, and banning the Russian Orthodox Church, seizing many religious structures in the process.
The Russian leader was resolute that Russia is determined to protect its interests and people at any cost, stressing the importance of traditional Russian values and the Russian language.
“The point is that Russia is determined and will certainly do so to protect its interests, protect its people living there, protect our traditional values, the Russian language, and so on,” he asserted.
He further justified the military action by pointing to “eight years of relentless violence” against citizens living in the Donbas region, stating that this compelled Russia to first recognize the republics and then provide military support.
President Putin’s remarks coincided with his first visit to India in four years, which began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally receiving him at the airport—a warm gesture that underscored the strong bilateral relationship despite global pressure.